CONCERNING S. LUPICINUS THE RECLUSE,
AT TRANSALIACUM IN THE PROVINCE OF BOURGES IN GAUL.
From the book of S. Gregory of Tours, On the Lives of the Fathers.
CommentaryLupicinus, Recluse at Transaliacum in Berry (S.)
BHL Number: 5075
D. P. AND FROM A MANUSCRIPT.
Molanus, in the first edition of the Additions to Usuard, thus consecrates the memory of S. Lupicinus on this day: Memory in the Calendars. Likewise of S. Lupicinus, Hermit and Confessor, concerning whom B. Gregory of Tours. Before Molanus, Hermann Greven, in the edition of the year 1515, "Of Lupicinus the Recluse." Why each, in his later adorned edition, omitted him on this day, and Molanus referred him to the Appendix of those whose natal day is unknown, I do not know. Canisius reported the same in the words of Molanus: but Ferrarius, citing Molanus in the Notes, has thus: S. Lupicinus the Solitary. Concerning him Gregory Bishop of Tours treats in chapter 13 of On the Lives of the Fathers, as he received it from Deodatus the eighty-year-old Presbyter: who, if he knew the living Saint while himself living, as it is permitted to suppose, he can have lived in the sixth century, after whose end Gregory died. His words are these.
[2] The athletes of Christ and triumphers over the world, desiring to make the loss of this fleeting life, Life from Gregory of Tours wished to press on to that life which remains in perpetual exultation, which is disturbed by no groan, nor concluded by any end; whose light is never extinguished, whose serenity is overshadowed by no obscurity of cloud. a man of marvelous patience, And therefore they always held for nothing the contumelies of present sorrows, knowing themselves to be vexed in a few things, in many things to be well disposed. Wisdom 1. And on account of this, whoever he be who strives in this contest, is not terrified by fear, is not loosed by punishment, is not broken by sorrow, that only he may merit to enjoy with the elect of God that pleasantness of eternal delight: as we know many of the holy Men to have done, whose life is now treated or read.
[3] Therefore a certain Lupicinus, a man of great
sanctity, who as a recluse lived on bread and water, and most strong in the works of God; who first, begging alms through the houses of the devout, distributed whatever he could acquire to those like himself: at last, already having reached middle age, coming to the village of Betberum, which is now called Lipidiacum, he found ancient walls; and there enclosed as a recluse, he kept himself from the sight of all men; and through a small little window receiving a little bread or water, which sometimes, though it was very scanty, lasted him until the third day. For water was brought in through a tiny channel: but the little window was covered with a veil; and the entrance of each was so covered, that no one could perceive his blessed face. And while there day and night he delighted in the praise of God with the melodies of psalms, he applied to himself a torment which should weigh down his little body the more; not unmindful of the words of the Apostle: singing psalms beneath a heavy stone, even to the spitting of blood: For the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the future glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8. For a great stone, which two men could scarcely lift, placed upon his neck, he carried about through the little cell the whole day, while he sang to God. But at night, for the addition of injury, in a rod which he carried in his hand, he had fixed two stakes, preparing points above; which he placed under his chin, lest he should take sleep. Finally, toward the last time of his life, his breast being corrupted by the weight of the stone, the grace of healings prevailed: he began to cast out blood through his mouth: which, casting it forth through the aforesaid walls, he spat. But very often to faithful men, approaching the little cell secretly by night, there resounded as it were the voice of many singing psalms: but also he restored many sick, and especially those oppressed by shivering fevers, or by evil pustules, to health by touch only, or by the imposition of the saving sign.
[4] he foreknew the time of his death. But when he was now bowed down with old age, he called his minister, saying: "The time of hiding has passed, the time of revealing has now come: know therefore that I am to be freed from this world after three days. Call now therefore all the faithful brothers and sons, to whom I am to say farewell, that they may come to visit us." But when the third day dawned, the Brothers flocking together, he opened the door which was shut; and all who were present entering, having been greeted and kissed, he poured out a prayer to the Lord, saying: "I give Thee thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, who hast bidden me to be saved from the impediments of this world, and hast deigned so to cherish me in this age, that the author of crime found nothing of his own in me." And turning to the people, he said: "Magnify, The blood-stained spittle of the piously deceased I beseech, dearest ones, the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name in common; who, raising me up from the dung, drawing me out from the work of darkness, has made me to be a partner of His friends: who sent His Angel to summon me from this worldly station, and has promised to lead me into everlasting rest; that, made a colleague to His friends, I might merit to be enrolled in His kingdom. O blessed man, who has merited so to be consoled in this body, that he should know beforehand what he was to enjoy in heaven, before he departed from the world: and merited to obtain here from the divine power, what David often sang, Make known to me, O Lord, my end, and the number of my days, that I may know what is wanting to me." Then bowing to the ground, he sent forth his spirit, intent on heaven, to the Lord.
[5] Then all, prostrate in weeping, some kiss the soles of his feet, scraped from the wall healed many. others tear off the fringes of his garment, others strive among themselves to scrape from the wall the blessed blood, which had been cast forth from his mouth. Each called himself wretched, if he should depart free of his pledges. A witness today also is the very wall, which lies open with as many holes as it merited spittings from the mouth of the blessed Confessor. A witness too is the very channel, from which the blessed Man took water for his uses; which the faithful kissing, draw health. I myself have already seen many, who, placing the spittings of the consecrated mouth, plucked from the wall, in various infirmities, merited to receive medicine.
[6] Finally, this man, as we have said, being dead, there was present a certain Matron, those among whom he died wishing to retain the body, who clothed him, washed, in worthy garments: and when she wished to carry him to the village of Transaliacum, the people of the district of Lipidiacum resisted her, saying: "Our soil alone cherished this man, to us is owed the clod of his body." But the Matron answered to these things: "If you reproach with any necessity of his food, I myself often sent him both wheat and barley, which he either took or ministered to others." But they said: "He was made a man of our race, he drank the waters of our river, our earth sent him to heaven: is it then just, that you, coming from an alien land, should snatch him from our hand? But know, that no one of us will endure this: but here he shall be buried." The Matron answered, "If you inquire of the seed of his stock, he came hither from other regions: if you adduce the waters of the river, they little softened his thirst, which rather that fountain flowing from heaven quenched."
[7] And when they uttered these and suchlike words among themselves, and the people of Lipidiacum, the earth being dug up, and the sarcophagus laid down, strove to bury him; the matron, having summoned aids, the villagers being put to flight, the people of Transaliacum prevail, snatched the holy Body, and began to carry it in a bier to the village of Transaliacum; troops of psalm-singers being arranged on the way, with crosses, candles, and the odor of fragrant incense. Which those people perceiving, moved by penitence, sent after the matron, saying: "We have sinned in resisting you; for indeed we recognize that the will of the Lord is in this. But now we ask, that we be not cast off from the homage of this burial, but be admitted to its offices." And she permitting that they should follow, both peoples were joined: and so together coming as far as the village of Transaliacum, Masses being celebrated, they buried the blessed Body with the highest honor and joy: in which village the Most Blessed often declared himself in virtues. and bury him after he was carried off. But also at Lipidiacum his holy work is often shown: for each place is fortified by the protections of one Saint. But perhaps the barking of certain unbelievers strives to clamor against these things: but let it know that I myself saw Deodatus the Presbyter, bearing the sum of an eighty-year age, who conferred these things to me as they are written; affirming under oath, that he had related nothing of these things with any admixture of lie.
[3] To one inquiring what this village of Transaliacum is called, Claudius Castellanus, Canon of Paris, often and happily consulted in such matters, The site of the place. of which he is most knowing, replied; that he found no place whose name comes nearer to it, and is less distant from Auvergne (whose Saints Gregory mostly pursues from chapter 11 to 14 inclusive), than that commonly called Tresillac, near the town of Aigurande in Berry, toward the borders of the March of Limoges, which most nearly touches Auvergne: for that in the Frankish tongue the Latin "Trans" is changed into "Tres" or "Tre," is plain from the words Trepas, a passage, as if trans-passus: and Treteau, a passage, as if transtellum: but we still labor that in the neighborhood there may be found some place retaining a vestige of Lipidiacum.